Information on compost

Information on compost

Welcome to the future of soil management. Our experienced, hands-on team at Geelong Compost will come to your farm and tailor a soil solution to help you improve productivity, reduce the use of in-organic fertilisers and spend less on pesticides and herbicides.

Geelong Compost is proudly a part of the Camperdown Compost Company, which has been providing on-farm composting programs for more than 15 years for:

Dairy

Beef

Grain

Orchards

Vineyards

Olives

Sheep

Vegetable

Mixed farm operations

Over this time, our research has shown the benefits of using our biological soil solutions include improved overall animal health, higher quality yields through improved soil structure, reduced input costs, disease and pest reduction.

This is because we are adding diversity in biology and out-competing pathogen organisms. In addition, we are releasing tied-up nutrients which leads to healthier plants.

The Science

Our research over the past 15 years has shown us that most agricultural soils are depleted in biological life, in both diversity and numbers.

The main problem with depleted numbers and species of biology, apart from a reduction in productivity, is in the area of disease control. Research has shown that adequate numbers of beneficial biology can suppress disease causing organisms. Some of the methods of achieving this are:

Use exudates to reduce food supply for pathogens.

Production of antibodies, inhibitory compounds and toxins to prevent pathogen growth.

In fact, adequate beneficial biology is probably the only long term, sustainable method of disease suppression in soils. The use of fungicides etc, are the only short term fix, leaving a sterile environment, ripe for re-infection.

Our Solution

At Geelong Compost we have a team of experienced technicians to tailor a soil solution specifically to your farm’s needs. We begin with a soil test to determine what is lacking and what is required. This gives a benchmark to start from. We are aiming to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and unlock the nutrients in the soil to stimulate root growth and disease protection. This creates a good environment for stubble and other trash to break down. The organic matter then becomes a nutrient for the following season’s crop.

Why use compost?

To protect against pathogens

To retain nutrients in the soil so they don’t leach from the root zone

To cycle nutrients into plant available forms

To improve uptake of soil or foliar nutrients

To break down pollutants in the soil, on and above ground surfaces or around the roots.

In broad acre farming, we recommend 250 – 300kg / hectare of compost and then one or two sprays to follow. In horticulture or more intensive agricultural uses, the rates are generally higher. In vegetables, 5-7 tonne to the hectare is currently being used with several sprays depending on disease pressure. Some of the sprays are being fertigated in as soil inoculums and some as leaf sprays for disease protection.

We are very proud to be in the business of building soils and producing healthier produce.

Contact us now for an on-farm assessment to see what we can to do improve the health of your soil.